This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Open AccessArticle
Torsional Vibration Suppression in Multi-Condition Electric Propulsion Systems Through Harmonic Current Modulation
by
Hanjie Jia
Hanjie Jia 1,2,*
,
Guanghong Hu
Guanghong Hu 1,
Xiangyang Xu
Xiangyang Xu 1,
Dong Liang
Dong Liang 1 and
Changzhao Liu
Changzhao Liu 2
1
School of Mechanotronics and Vehicle Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, China
2
State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmission for Advanced Equipment, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Actuators 2025, 14(6), 283; https://doi.org/10.3390/act14060283 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 19 April 2025
/
Revised: 6 June 2025
/
Accepted: 6 June 2025
/
Published: 9 June 2025
Abstract
Electric helicopters represent a pivotal component in the advancement of urban air mobility (UAM), with considerable potential for future development. The electric propulsion system (EPS) is the core component of these systems. However, the inherent complexities of electromechanical coupling can induce excessive torsional vibrations, potentially compromising operational comfort and even threatening flight safety. This study proposes an active torsional vibration suppression method for EPS that explicitly incorporates electromechanical coupling characteristics. A nonlinear dynamic model has been developed, accounting for time-varying meshing stiffness, meshing errors, and multi-harmonic motor excitation. The motor and transmission system models are coupled using torsional angular displacement. A harmonic current command generation algorithm is then formulated, based on the analysis of harmonic torque-to-current transmission characteristics. To achieve dynamic tracking and the real-time compensation of high-order harmonic currents under non-steady-state conditions, a high-order resonant controller with frequency-domain decoupling characteristics was designed. The efficacy of the proposed harmonic current modulation is verified through simulations, showing an effective reduction of torsional vibrations in the EPS under both steady-state and non-steady-state conditions. It decreases the peak dynamic meshing force by 4.17% and the sixth harmonic amplitude by 88.15%, while mitigating overshoot and accelerating vibration attenuation during speed regulation. The proposed harmonic current modulation method provides a practical solution for mitigating torsional vibrations in electric propulsion systems, enhancing the comfort, reliability, and safety of electric helicopters.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Jia, H.; Hu, G.; Xu, X.; Liang, D.; Liu, C.
Torsional Vibration Suppression in Multi-Condition Electric Propulsion Systems Through Harmonic Current Modulation. Actuators 2025, 14, 283.
https://doi.org/10.3390/act14060283
AMA Style
Jia H, Hu G, Xu X, Liang D, Liu C.
Torsional Vibration Suppression in Multi-Condition Electric Propulsion Systems Through Harmonic Current Modulation. Actuators. 2025; 14(6):283.
https://doi.org/10.3390/act14060283
Chicago/Turabian Style
Jia, Hanjie, Guanghong Hu, Xiangyang Xu, Dong Liang, and Changzhao Liu.
2025. "Torsional Vibration Suppression in Multi-Condition Electric Propulsion Systems Through Harmonic Current Modulation" Actuators 14, no. 6: 283.
https://doi.org/10.3390/act14060283
APA Style
Jia, H., Hu, G., Xu, X., Liang, D., & Liu, C.
(2025). Torsional Vibration Suppression in Multi-Condition Electric Propulsion Systems Through Harmonic Current Modulation. Actuators, 14(6), 283.
https://doi.org/10.3390/act14060283
Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details
here.
Article Metrics
Article Access Statistics
For more information on the journal statistics, click
here.
Multiple requests from the same IP address are counted as one view.